SPCL1 Week12 - Bashley up to second

Bashley (Rydal) lie second in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League after an convincing three-wicket win over lowly Liphook & Ripsley.

The victory took them above Havant - who lost by 70 runs to the Hampshire Academy - and into the runners-up slot behind runaway leaders BAT Sports, who put their unbeaten nine-match record at risk at the BCG on Saturday.

Seventeen wickets fell for 190 runs at Ripsley Park, but former Bashley skipper Neil Taylor felt that poor batting was to blame, rather than an undistinguished pitch.

"Lets say it was lack of application that caused most of the wickets to fall," he said diplomatically.

"It wasn't a great strip to bat on, but it was more a 140 wicket than 94 all out in Liphook's case."

John Whiting (4-13)and Kevin Nash (3-28) were more than a handful for Liphook, who sank from 31-2 to 43-7 against the two Bashley seamers.

David Wade (32) and Glyn Read (17) showed the application that was needed, but despite their eighth-wicket rally, Liphook were almost bowled out for 94 by lunch.

Bashley hardly batted much better, with Andy Sexton (17) the only batsman in the top six to get into double figures.

Tim Wheatley (3-32) and left-armer Read (2-20) created panic in the visitors' ranks as Bashley faced an improbable defeat at 41-6.

But Neil Sexton, with a carefully hit 33, and Neil Taylor (15 not out) turned the match in Bashley's favour by doubling the total with a decisive eighth-wicket partnership which all but secured the points.

Bournemouth experienced far less hassle in beating struggling Portsmouth by six wickets at Chapel Gate - but they did make rather hard work of their victory.

It meant Ben Thane (28) and Naqeeb Ali Mohamed (19) having to squeeze out every run, particularly off Jo Wilson, who sent down his initial 13 overs of seam at a personal cost of five runs !

The Liverpudlian, who finished with 3-25 off 18 overs, removed Naqeeb, Dean Oliffe and Paul Ancell in quick succession to have Portsmouth reeling at 68-6.

Matt Keech, who made 87, found himself fighting a lone battle, although either side of lunch student Dan Neville provided valued support.

With left-arm spinners Shaun Walbridge (5-48) and Adam Voges bowling in tandem, runs were always hard to come by and once the Dorset vice-captain had removed Portsmouth's seventh-wicket pair, the end was nigh.

When the watchful Nick Park (45) and Voges (40) took Bournemouth's reply to 96-1, Portsmouth's 159 all out appeared an academic target.

But Bournemouth found themselves bogged down and lost four wickets before Matt Swarbrick (28 not out) and Charlie Holcomb took them home.